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Women in Medicine Month: Dr. Colene Arnold

September 6, 2017

In honor of Women in Medicine Month, NHMS asked members to contribute stories of women physicians in the state. This week we feature Dr. Colene Arnold, with a special thank you to her business partner Leslie Parker, MPT, for sharing Dr. Arnold's story!

As an Obstetrician & Gynecologist, Dr. Arnold has worked on the Seacoast of New Hampshire for 14 years. While working full time with Garrison Women's Health Center and with Goodwin Community Health Center she recognized a significant increase in the use of opioids in pregnant women, and as with every section of the population, not enough facilities to treat this vulnerable group of women. She responded by cofounding Hope On Haven Hill, an 8-bed, nonprofit, charitable residential facility for pregnant women with addiction and their newborn babies. She worked tirelessly learning about and then forming the nonprofit, recruited a dynamic Board of Directors, spent countless hours writing grants and fundraising, then moved her family out of their home to be able to convert their lovely, historic residence into a space that 8 women and their babies now call home, while they receive the necessary treatment to recover from their addictions. The doors opened in December 2016, and the rooms have been full with a waiting list since the inception.

Helping women with addiction has been a passion for Dr. Arnold. This dedication blends well with another area of interest that she has as a Gynecologist, which is treating women with Chronic Pelvic Pain. Her goal in this area is to treat women with the respect that they deserve and to provide them with a compassionate healthcare professional that they can trust to help them heal from the physical and oftentimes emotional trauma that has contributed to their pain. While treating patients that frequently have already seen up to 10 different providers, have had multiple imaging studies, all too often without an answer for why they have pain, other than it might just be in their heads, she once again felt the need to do more than she was already doing. She recognized that a comprehensive approach to treatment of Chronic Pelvic Pain was essential to help women regain control and last month, along with myself, she opened Inner Balance Pelvic Health & Wellness Center in Newington, NH. She brought together likeminded practitioners with backgrounds in pelvic floor physical therapy, psychology, sexual health therapy, nutrition, therapeutic massage, therapeutic yoga and Reiki to join forces, under one roof, to collaborate on the best approaches to bring about healing once again in a vulnerable population of women.

Dr. Arnold has accomplished so much in such a short amount of time. I'm grateful to be with her on this journey to wellness in her latest venture to bring about transformation from the emotional and physical pain that prevents many from achieving their full potential.